Fall River inches closer to hiring economic developer

The city is taking its second shot at creating an economic development position. But with Mayor Will Flanagan forming a search committee to fill the job, this time it could be a reality.

Jo C. Goode Herald News Staff Reporter @jgoodeHN

FALL RIVER — The city is taking its second shot at creating an economic development position. But with Mayor Will Flanagan forming a search committee to fill the job, this time it could be a reality.

For the fiscal 2015 budget, the City Council approved $100,000 in funding to create the position of economic developer. The developer would answer to the mayor and City Council.

Last year, the council approved similar financing, but the mayor refused to use the funds, saying staffing someone in economic development was not sustainable in 2014.

On Tuesday, Flanagan will meet with the members of his search committee to enter into initial talks about the role and its duties.

“I’m going to be open-minded about the process and not go into the meeting with a set agenda,” Flanagan said. “I’ll go in with a blank slate.”

So far, Flanagan’s search committee includes Robert Mellion, president of the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Kenneth Fiola Jr., executive vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development; City Councilors Daniel Rego and Michael Miozza, and City Administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros.

Mellion said he has some ideas for the new economic development director’s initiatives, including creating a marketing strategy and implementing it. The new hire, he said, should also be the point of contact for any business looking to locate in the city and for existing businesses wishing to expand.

The key, said Mellion, is to see real economic and commercial growth in the city.

“The city is in a revenue crisis, and we saw those symptoms playing out in the latest budget,” Mellion said.

Developing the waterfront and completing the City Pier project should be priorities, as well as assisting in filling the Fall River Industrial Park and jump-starting the growth of the SouthCoast Life Science and Technology Park, Mellion said.

“That should be the drop-dead date, and I think this could go a long way in increasing the residential and commercial tax base,” Miozza said.

Miozza said he sees the position as one voice in economic development in the city but with strong collaborations with FROED, the chamber of commerce and the City Council Committee on Economic Development and Tourism.

Other qualities Miozza would like to see in a candidate are a strong knowledge of Fall River history, good contacts in the business community and a track record of success. His preference would be a city resident, but Miozza said he’s looking for the most-qualified candidate.

Miozza and Mellion said they would be opposed to the position turning into strictly a tourism role.

“Tourism is a piece of economic development,” Mellion said.

Focusing on marketing the city is one of the suggestions from Fiola, and while the economic development piece is in place, the new economic development director could create a calendar of events and promote tourist attractions.

Fiola also suggested that the new director could work closely with neighborhood merchant groups.